Miss A Columnist

As a 4-year Leukemia survivor, Stacey Mertes is heavily involved in fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the American Diabetes Association. Her 7-year-old son, Logan, is a recently diagnosed Type 1 diabetic, but keeps Stacey on her toes with his own active fundraising endeavors such as the Columbia Tower climb (for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), WaMu stair climb (for Cystic Fibrosis), and several triathlons and other stair climbs around the city. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, Stacey has lived in many of the local neighborhoods (including spending 11 years next to the Pike Place Market), since graduating from the University of Washington. She finally settled down in the most diverse zip code in the country, Columbia City, where she enjoys walks to the many restaurants, farmers market, and art events nearby. Her favorite hobby of late is finding the most fun “free” things to do around Seattle with her son. She loves movies, plays, visiting the Pacific Science Center and other museums, and finding those geocaching adventures.

The Foundry Event Venue Opens In Seattle

Casting Room at The Foundry that holds up to 25 people seated, 40 reception (photo credit: Herban Feast)

Herban Feast celebrates the opening of its newest venue, The Foundry, which complements its sister venue, the award-winning Sodo Park. Named in homage to its origin as a copper and steel manufacturing and fabrication plant from 1945, The Foundry is a distinguished space where historic meets contemporary. It has always been my personal dream to convert a warehouse space into a home, so this space really spoke to me as a great venue to have an event. Its exposed beams, barn doors, and eclectic decor, which vastly differs from room to room, can create any event to your taste making it very memorable for all who attend.

At a recent open house, as I noshed on hand-rolled sushi with tuna and Reisling gelee with edible flowers, while sipping on one of their signature drinks – the Hibiscus Flip, a blend of vodka and hibiscus tea – I spoke to the owner, BJ Duft. Duft began Herban Feast as a catering business in 1991, and it has become the parent company to two great venues, Sodo Park (one large, industrial chic venue) and The Foundry (multiple room venues), a restaurant, Fresh Bistro, and their catering service. His passion for sustainable farming – he owns 5 acres of farm, a “farmette”, as he calls it, where he grows all the edible flowers that they use in their dishes – lends to a unique menu that will leave your guests in awe. With a background in hospitality and event planning, Duft brings to Seattle a unique blend of cool and chic both in venue and menu to host a wedding, corporate, or private event. The venue features a unique, customizable layout with distinct spaces that can be used separately for intimate get-togethers of 25, progressive-style events, off-site meetings with break-out sessions, or together for seated gatherings and celebrations for 200 and up to 500 cocktail style and small gatherings of 25.

The Press Room at The Foundry (photo credit: Herban Feast)

Situated just south of Sodo Park, The Foundry is equipped with state-of-the-art meeting rooms, a house AV/sound system, service equipment, including tables, chairs, china and glassware, lounge furniture, a gas fireplace, a floating waterfall, and a complete kitchen. With full service event coordination and exclusive catering by Herban Feast, The Foundry is a great place to host business events and company off-sites, weddings and wedding receptions, galas, and private parties.

Savory herbs and unique market fresh and organic produce are key elements in our bountiful, beautiful, and flavorful menus prepared and inspired by Executive Chef, Dalis Chea, previously a chef at Canlis, and Duft himself, an avid, and I suspect, excellent cook. Each menu creation is inspired by our passion for bringing sustainable and eco-friendly ideals to the table through an innovative and savvy use of the season’s best from local food producers. With his love and support of local farmers, Herban Feast contributes to a select group of organizations, such as West Seattle Helpline, Get Hitched, Give Hope, and Cascade Harvest Coalition, that reflect the company’s commitment to its community and local producers. Donated items include use of its Sodo Park and The Foundry venues, donated catering, and donated time from founder BJ Duft who offers herb gardening and cooking classes.